Sick magpie

[patsy]

Please help!! For days a sick magpie has been visiting my garden as I feed birds throughout the year. I first noticed it when it didn't fly away from the tree even though my dog was barking at it. Then it was on a feeding table one day and didn't fly off until I was close enough to see that it looked ill and had lost some feathers from its head.
Today I heard my dogs barking and saw them chasing around the trellis where the magpie was jumping from one side to the other - it didn't have the energy to fly away.
I have three spaniels and they just want to retrieve it.
I shut the dogs indoors and got close enough to the bird to see that it's very, very sick. It has hardly any feathers on the top of its head and the skin looks raw. Its eyes look swollen and are closed most of the time although it desperately tries to stay awake to stay alive.
Is there anything I can do?

[Cazzie]

Aww, poor thing

I can only suggest you catch it and either take it to a wildlife rescue centre or a vet. It'll probably need to be PTS and is surely suffering atm.

[Vixen]

it needs to be seen by your local wildlife hospital, it could be it just needs time to rest and recover.

I be hessitent to take it to a vet as not many people like Magpie's and I exspect most vet would'nt even bother seeing if it is worth a chance, and just have it PTS.

[nightshade]

PTS?,atm? please explain

[Pigeon feather]

PTS means put to sleep and I'm assuming atm means at the moment?

[Meles meles]

Almost a certain loss, Surprised its made it this long, And not become a meal for one.

[Cazzie]

Originally Posted by Pigeon feather

PTS means put to sleep and I'm assuming atm means at the moment?

Spot on!

Keep us posted Patsy.

[Vixen]

Originally Posted by Meles meles

Almost a certain loss, Surprised its made it this long, And not become a meal for one.

I not shore how people can be so certain that an animal is no good without seeing the animal it self.

I seen many animals that most would write off, and 3-6 months later recovered and released

[Pigeon feather]

I seen many animals that most would write off, and 3-6 months later recovered and released[/quote]

Ditto Vixen, couldn't agree with that statement more, and what an amazing feeling it is knowing all that hard work has paid off, it's the best feeling in the world!